"One Door Opens....."

Alex drove for what seemed forever. She had a lot to think about. Damian was back and she didn’t know why. She didn’t know anything, but she did know was that it wasn’t anything good. Damian wasn’t anything good and neither was anything he brought with him. She knew how Damian was and she never wanted to relive that ever again. “You cannot escape who you are” echoed throughout her mind. Alex didn’t want to remember who she was. Escaping is what she was trying to do. She knew that she had to stay away from Damian and stop whatever he was trying to do. “Stupid vampire exes!” she said aloud to herself as she kept driving. She didn’t have the luxury of looking out the window to watch the transformation of her surroundings change. Actually, everything was a blur. It looked like picture was taken as the car was speeding to the destination. This is why she knew springing for the R8 would come in handy.

Alex finally reached her driveway and parked her car in front of the house. She just wanted to get inside so she could think and sort things out. She needed a nice warm pouch of B+ and a crazy straw. Alex smiled a small smile at the thought of drinking B+ in a very negative situation. With that thought in her head she went in the house. Alaska wasn’t there to greet her as he always had been. “Hmm guess he didn’t hear me pull up.” She thought aloud. Alex called for her furry companion but he didn’t come. “Alaska, here boy.” she called again. Now she was worried. He always came when called. He was always at the door. Just then Alex got a very unsettling feeling in her stomach. She sniffed the air and smelled a scent that was familiar. Was it Damian? No he wouldn’t be that stupid to show up here at her home. Or would he? There’s never any way to tell with a crazy vampire in love, especially when that vampire was Damian. Alex sniffed the air again. No it wasn’t Damian, but she knew this scent. She carefully went up the stairs to her bedroom to look for Alaska. As she went up the stairs the scent got stronger. When she reached her room her stomach clenched. She slowly placed her hand on the doorknob and turned it just as slow. She slowly and carefully opened the door. When she had the door open far enough to see inside she gasped as she saw someone on her bed petting Alaska.

“Hey Alexandria.” He greeted with a smile. Alex let out a low growl and rolled her eyes. She didn’t have time for this. What was this? “Get on Alex’s Nerves Day”? Why did everyone decide to pop up today? Alex collected her thoughts and spoke.

“Hello Xander.” She greeted flatly as she watched Xander pet and play with Alaska. Xander was the last person besides Damian she wanted to deal with.

“Aww come on Lex, that’s no way to greet your brother.” Xander smiled mischievously. Any normal person would’ve been glad to see their twin brother after so long, but this was Alex, and this was Xander. They were both far from normal, and so were the circumstances. She hadn’t seen him in just as long as she’d seen Damian, what did he want now?

“It is when I haven’t seen my “brother” in almost 120 years!” she yelled angrily. Alaska jumped off the bed and trotted to her side. She was sick of her past popping up and ruining the peace that she’s managed to gain, the sanity, and humanity she’d gain during their absence.

“Calm down sis. And the air quotes around ‘brother’ hurts my feelings Lex. I’m your twin, I come in peace.” He stated calmly with a smile. Xander’s smile always was comforting. This wasn’t the case this time.

Xander was taller that Alex standing at 6’2” with a build like a basketball player, lean but muscular. His skin was the same milk chocolate brown color as Alex’s. His hair was cut into a low fade. She took in the whole look of Xander. He like Damian hadn’t changed since the last time she saw him.

“So you came and found me with him huh?” Alex asked with her arms crossed.

“What are you talkin’ ‘bout Lex? With who?” Xander asked. This time the smile was gone and was replaced with a look of genuine confusion. She didn’t buy it.

“Don’t give me that lost puppy look!”Now she was angry. “You know who I’m talking about!” she yelled.

“No I don’t! Who are you talking about?”Xander asked looking concerned.

“Damian!” she finally brought herself to say his name out loud. She figured if she didn’t say it out loud, then the scene between them never happened. He never came and turned her world upside down. Alex fell to her knees when the realization of everything that was happening caught up with her. Reality sucks. She thought to herself. In one swift motion Xander was holding her as she kneeled on the floor trembling.

“Wait, Lex, Damian’s here? Where?” He really sounded afraid now. He sounded like such the big brother, even though he was only five minutes older. She looked up at her twin. This was a different Xander than the one she left in Paris over 120 years ago. That Xander was something that she didn’t want to associate herself with.

“You mean you really didn’t know he was here?” she asked as she looked at him in the eyes.

“No. I didn’t. I haven’t seen or spoken to Damian in an entire century. I didn’t like who he became after you left. He became enraged and obsessed finding you.” He explained.

“How did you find me?” she now shifted so she was facing him. They both sat on the floor like kindergarteners looking at each other eye to eye. Just then Xander smiled.

“You’re my twin sister Lex. No matter where you go, I’m always going to find you, even when you don’t want me to.” Xander’s eyes softened and he kissed his sister’s forehead. She missed her brother dearly, and never stopped thinking about him, but she didn’t like his timing. Then again another side of her thought his timing was just right, as always.

“What took you so long to find me?” Alex asked. She was almost hurt that it took him 120 years.

“You didn’t want to be found. I picked that much up from you. You gave this illusion that you were running from anything from your past, so I listened.” Xander explained.

“So what made you want to come now?”

“Easy, you’d been having that dream again haven’t you?” Alex nodded. She hated that he could get into her head. “Well I noticed one day that it was worse than usual. Then earlier today I got a feeling that you needed me so here I am. I’ve never been too far away, just far enough away so you wouldn’t know, but close enough that I can be there at a moment’s notice.” Xander smiled and nudged her shoulder. They booth stood up and Alex hugged him.

“Thanks for coming. I really needed you.”

“No problem. You’re the only family I’ve got. Now where do you keep the blood in this place?” he asked casually. Alex looked at him confused.

“You don’t hunt anymore? Don’t tell me you’ve went vegetarian.”

“Nope, no veggies form me.” He laughed. “After you left I thought about the way things were and I stick to getting my supply from blood banks.”

“Well my brother, you’ve come to the right place. Follow me.” Alex led Xander downstairs to the kitchen while Alaska followed. She opened the refrigerator and looked at Xander. His eyes were wide with amazement.

“Now I’ve got everything from O+ to AB-. Take your pick.” Alex offered.

“I’ll take some O+ please.” Xander requested politely with a smile. “How did you get all this blood?” Now he was curious. Alex knew she couldn’t ignore him now.

“Easy, if you volunteer at the blood bank and have vampire mind control powers.” She smiled and laughed. That poor lab tech never knew what hit him. While he was dazzled by Alex’s smile and beauty she continues to stock up as he helps load it all into her car week after week. It was a pretty sweet arrangement if she didn’t say so herself, he never would remember it, and she got away with it.

“Wow I’m impressed Lex.” Xander said. Then his face turned serious. Alex took the pouches and placed them into the microwave pressed START and walked away to get them both their own crazy straw.

“Crazy straws, cute.” Xander laughed. The timer went off and she placed his pouch in front of him. She sat down and started to drink, and that same effect of her body recharging took place. She didn’t notice how all this stress was draining her until the blood hit her tongue and bounced all its sweetness around her mouth. Xander looked up at her and took a sip. He looked serious now.

“So Damian saw you today?” Alex nodded looking up from her pouch. “When? Where were you? Was he here? Does he know where you live?” She really didn’t want to answer his questions right now, but he looked serious.

“He was at my school. I thought I was being watched when I got out of my car, but I shrugged it off. I guess he was waiting for me. I’m not sure if he knows where I live since he was at my school, because I didn’t feel weird until I got there.” Alex explained. She looked deep into her twin brother’s eyes. She was looking to see if he really didn’t know about Damian. She looked harder. She didn’t find deceit, she found sincerity, and genuine concern, and then she found it. She saw a glimmer of pure terror in his eyes. He quickly tried to cover it up but it was there, she’d seen it, although brief it was there. He really didn’t know about Damian, and he was scared, like she was, about what he was capable of and what he was planning. Xander looked deep into Alex’s eyes and saw the same thing that she’d seen in his. Xander’s face hardened and became very serious.

“Lex I want you to tell me everything that you know, and I want you to tell me right now.” Alex finished her sip and started to explain to Xander everything she knew, although it wasn’t much she knew every bit helped. And at this point Damian had the upper hand, and that scared her. They needed a plan and the needed it quick before it was too late.